To be shocked that the resident parent has to foot the nursery bill?

[Inkap]

What is the rationale behind this other than further and continued abuse of women?

It quite literally puts some single mothers into poverty or at the least very difficult circumstances when they cannot afford to stay in a job.

What the fuck is wrong with this country?

Nail on head. IMHO the government should pay the parents not the nurseries for 'free' hours, so that the parents can decide whether one parent stays at home, granny looks after the DC (hope granny is not me, because I have no intention of being a childminder for my DGC), or they pay a childminder, or they use a nursery.

Value of the place to be decided in court at the present time, I think.

Afaik, nursery is intended by the government as a dumping place for children so their parents can work and be economic units and provides employment for other economic units. Educational outcomes are not bothered about.

@IpsyUpsyDaisyDoos the fact you (and a lot of society) don’t understand how discrimination works is why things are so slow to change. It IS penalising women because the majority of RP are women. The outcome of this is that the policy (or lack of) regarding nursery fees adversely affects more women than men and thus is a gender issue.

But in many cases the resident parent can get help with nursery fees through universal credit, the non resident parent can't.
To look at a system, they have to look at it "gender free", that's what equality is about. Could be said the society isn't equal in terms of mothers being resident parent in X% ofncases and more father shouldn't be able to have full custody of the children.

As a single parent on a low income, yes there are!

My daughters get funding (15 hours and 30 hours but will go up to both getting 30 hours from September) and I also get 85% paid by UC. In a 4 week month I pay around £200 of my own money (the rest paid by funding and uc). This is for 2 full days all inclusive.

But you could have a system where dads pay 50% of the fees after UC subsidy.

I would think a lot of cases would end up in family courts, non resident parent saying emailing offered to have on X days, they wouldn't choose that nursery. Remember non resident parent doesn't have the same rights. Quite a bit of that (rights) came up in in a child benefit thread a week or so ago

The father would need to pay for any childcare required on the days they have access.

Who else would pay for it? Well, the non-resident parent could pay half! Just because they're not living with their children, it doesn't mean they don't have to contribute towards their children's care. If the mother didn't go out to work then the children would be even worse off.

I would guess there are men out there who wanted more custody and so are bitter and/ or think the woman is getting enough. When I think of how dh thinks I spend too much on a day to day basis on the running of the house and on the kids and consider what we’d be like as a separated couple (on the way there sadly), I shudder. I think most men consider most expenses flittering money a way and think they could magically budget better/ get a cheaper deal (as someone said above why can’t your Aunty do childcare for free or sure can’t the kids just be at home those few hours? They’ll be fine). Totally different mentality
(Hence the reason we all clash if we can’t meet in the middle I suppose)

@Exdonkeylover the impact of being forced to claim UC is far beyond the immediate financial status. It means halting career progression, often social isolation and then associated health problems that can come from low income families.

Men should pay half their child’s costs.

People have their opinions until they themselves are the single parent with the absent partner.

if you have a child together you both should pay.

Yes absolutely they should contribute either equally or by earnings..

I agree with you but I find the UK shockingly mysognistic when it comes to childcare and maintenance. It absolutely punishes women in a way that is shameful for a country that claims to be developed.